The regeneration of the Wolverton Agora has been a priority for Milton Keynes City Council for over 20 years and is the central aim of the adopted Wolverton Neighbourhood Plan.
Following the repeated failure of private-sector led plans to deliver redevelopment, the Council has stepped in to buy the Agora and deliver the Love Wolverton scheme directly.
The Council is investing over £36 million in the scheme, plus a further £3.7 million in supporting works within the town centre.
The Council’s investment in the Agora site will deliver:
- Demolition of the Agora Centre and reinstatement of long-lost Radcliffe Street South to reconnect Church Street and the Square;
- 86 generously-sized new homes for rent, ranging from 1-bed flats to 4-bed family houses, including at least 31% affordable housing;
- Eight new small shops to reinforce Wolverton’s independent retail culture;
- An energy microgrid that will generate around two-thirds of the annual energy needs of the development on-site from 100% zero-carbon, renewable sources;
- New car-free ‘little streets’ and a new pocket park – designed around retained London Plane trees – for all residents and visitors to Wolverton to use; and
- A sustainable mobility hub for use by all local residents providing an electric car club, a NextBike dock, Brompton bike hire facility and a revamped bus stop on Church Street.
The Council’s investment in supporting works will deliver a new town centre car park at St George’s Way to replace the Agora car park, plus public realm improvements to Church Street which will help to knit the new development into the existing townscape.
The Council has appointed award-winning developer TOWN, which originated the Love Wolverton proposals, to manage delivery of the project on its behalf. As part of the plans, TOWN will directly deliver a £6 million older people’s cohousing scheme for and with Still Green Cohousing, providing 29 homes including 14% at Social Rents.
